Barry Walsh may have been an outgoing councillor – but he hadn’t been elected in his own right before.
The Ballyroan man was co-opted to replace the retiring Mary Sweeney in early 2022 and was an impressive performer in the council chamber from his first meeting.
But it was his name on the ballot paper on this occasion, seeking to continue Ballyroan’s long and proud tradition of local representation.
According to the Fine Gael tallies, turnout in Ballyroan was up on what it was five years ago and it was no small feat for him to get over 400 first preferences in his home village, about 60 more than what Mary Sweeney did in 2019.
Overall his vote of 849 was about 150 votes lower than what Sweeney got in 2019, though that was down to a lower number of votes picked up in Portlaoise, where his profile wasn’t as high.
He was duly joined in the count centre on Monday night where his good-humoured supporters were quick to belt out the ‘Skies oer Ballyroan’ following the official announcement after his selection.
“I’m so delighted,” he said in his interview on the LaoisToday Local Election Podcast moments after his election had been confirmed.
“I am really overcome with emotion to be honest. Huge support here like you said. My family, friends, all the community got behind me.
“I really feel privileged to represent them. All the hard work that’s been put in over the last few months by all the people that have helped me. Canvassers, people who are putting up posters.
“I’m not going to name anyone individually but a huge amount of people have helped me and I’ve gotten nothing but support everywhere I went, all around the local community.
“It felt special to win as I don’t see it as a seat for me but I see it as a seat for Ballyroan and the surrounding communities. I’m involved in a lot of community groups and I enjoy getting involved and helping all those groups.
“They’ve got behind me because they’ve seen I put in good work and everyone has told me that.
“So as I said I don’t see it as a win for me but a win for the whole community spirit.”
You know it’s a big deal in Ballyroan when the Skies Oer is being belted out. Barry Walsh’s supporters sing the great Ballyroan Anthem pic.twitter.com/4Z8YUQq5BU
— Laois Today (@LaoisToday) June 10, 2024
He said he was a bit taken aback when he was approached to see would he fill the vacancy left by Sweeney’s retirement.
“I was really taken by surprise when Mary Sweeney asked me if I would be interested in taking her seat. I had never thought of doing it before.
“I’m not from a hugely political family. I had engaged with politics and had followed it but It wasn’t something I ever saw myself getting into but I was involved in a good few of the community groups and I just gave it a go.
“It took about two months of talking with my family. I spoke with my wife Gemma, with the kids and I felt that the role involved a lot of the similar stuff I’ve been doing anyway in the community.
“I didn’t have to commit to running this time if I felt that it wasn’t for me. It was just to see out the term and see if I liked it.
“However I really enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed being able to help people, being able to establish a development association in Ballyroan.
“Through that we have achieved a lot in the last couple of years and not all to my effort. All I did was sow a seed and encourage.
“A lot of good stuff has come from it. We’re going to have a playground fairly soon, a multi-use sports complex and a lot of other stuff we’re planning on too.
“I’ve also been up in Knock and Ballinakill with other projects as well. I am more than willing to help anyone that wants it, any groups that are trying to get grants or move stuff on. There’s loads of stuff out there you just need someone to sow a seed.
“I firmly believe in community spirit if you can get a community going there’s a lot of work that can be achieved.”
The support of his family was an absolutely massive thing.
“My wife Gemma has been an angel through all of this. Anything I do in my life she supports me all the way and all my family have so I have to thank her.
“It has been weird for the kids seeing my poster up, weird in a good way I suppose. All the kids in Ballyroan school have given me nothing but support as well, counting all the posters, it’s nearly like ‘Where’s wally’ at times.”
With Charlie Flanagan, the long-serving Laois Fine Gael TD not seeking re-election in the next General Election, could Walsh be tempted to run for that?
“While there is a vacancy for the General Elections I haven’t looked past the locals to be honest,” he said.
“But look it isn’t something that I’d rule out but it’s something I’d have to give huge consideration to.”
You can listen to our 2024 Local Election Podcast below, where we discuss the Portlaoise Municipal District – and hear from a selection of the candidates.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our 2024 Local Election coverage here
